Recording device for meters



Feb. 20, 1934.

G. G. WAITE ET AL RECORDING DEVICE FOR METERS Filed March 24, 1935 Patented mm, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,941,816 RECORDING DEVICE non Marlins Grifiin G. Waite and George W. ILawrence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assigns-rs to Sangamo Company Limited, Torontcg. @ntario, Canada Application March 24, was. Serial "sacszsze 5 cams. (on. sai -1.5)

The principal obiects of this invention are to devise means for indelibly recording the maximum travel of the indicating member of a me-' ter in such a manner as to eliminate resistance 5 to the movement of the delicately adjusted indicating member and to provide an arrangement which will permit the easy and simple insertion and removal of record cards to and from the meter.

m The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel arrangement of a thin metal foil in the path of movement of an electrode whereby the electrode penetrates the foil and is free from contact with any retarding element 1 and fuses the foil to form a clear pathway therein as it advances in its recording movement.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a meter showing the application of the invention.

. Figure 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure l with the cover removed and a portionofthecasingbrokenaway.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the indicator finger and record foil showing the recording slot.

.5 Numerous forms of metering instruments and particularly electric meters are extremely (1611-.

cate in their indicating elements and it has been ascertained that there is an appreciable element of error in the indication where recording means are provided, due to frictional contact between the record sheet and the recording member. This invention eflects the elimination of such errorinapracticalandreliablemanner.

As'illustrated in the drawing a the indicating arm 1, which is operated-by the meter elements responsive to the quantities or forces being measured, is electrically connected with a source of electrical energy, here'iilustrated in the form of a transformer 2. Mounted upon the arm 1 adjacent to its free extremity is a stylus 3, preferably in the form of a fine metallic or graphite pencil.

Thecasesofthemeterisformedwitharecessfiadaptedtoreceivetherecordcardoand 5 the inner wall 'lof the recess is provided with a slot 8, preferably of arc-shape concentric with the axis of rotation of the indicator arm and through which the stylus 8 extends. A suitable cover 4' of transparent material may be arso rangedtocloseandsealthecardrecess.

The record card 6 is provided with a recess or slot'il, coinciding with the slot 8 in the case and a sheet 10 of thin metal foil, preferably silvenissecuredtothebackofthecardspam ls niwtherecessorslotii. Thafaceoftheeard is preferably printed with a suitable indicator scale which provides the means of indicating the measurement in accordance with the position of the arm 1.

A terminal contact 11 is arranged in the recess 5 to engage with the metal foil on the card and said terminal is electrically connected with the source of power so that an electric circuit is closed when the stylus 3 engages the foil. The closing of the circuit causes the fusing of the foil and the stylus penetrates through the foil intermediate of the width of the slot 9 in the card. The stylus burns a'hole greater than its own diameter through the foil and the circuit is immediately broken. As the arm 1 moves in its 7 arc-shaped path under the influence of the metering device the stylus engages one edge of the hole originally burned on the insertion of the card andas it advances it burns its way edgewise through the foil entirely through the arc- 7; ing of the current flowing through the stylus circuit and there is no actual contact frictionally or otherwise with either the foil or any surface. Theresult achieved is that there is no resistance to the indicating movement of the so am '1 and an absolutely true record of the movement of the indicator arm is provided by the narrow slot which is burned in the foil adjacent to the scale marked on the card.

The applicants are aware that attempts have u been made to produce records of the operations of meter indicator arms by fusing metal foil mounted on some other substance, in the path oftravel by the contact of an electrode, but the present invention differs from such efforts in so that the electrode penetrates a foil which is unsupported throughout the line of travel of said electrode and there isan absence of frictional or other resistance to its movement.

It will be understood that the construction of 08 the record card, the stylus or other parts may be varied considerably without departing from the principal feature as herein enunciated.

What we claim as our invention is: 1. In a recording device formeters, a membe operated by the meter in response to the value measured, a sheet of metal foil arranged adjacent to said member, an electrode carriedby said meter operated member and penetratingsaid metal foil and fusing an advance path through the latter to permit unobstructed movement of the meter operated member, said electrode being free of frictional contact with any retarding element.

3. In a recording device for meters the 'combiii.

nation with a member operated by the meter in response to the value measured and carrying an electrode. of a record member presenting a thin strip composed solehr of metal foil in the path transversely of the electrode, said electrode being extended unobstructedly through said metal foil and fusing the pure metal foil in advance to permit unobstructed advance movement of the meter operated member.

3. In a recording device for meters, the combination with a member operated by the meter in response to the value measured and carrying an electrode, of a record member having a recess or slot corresponding with the path of travel of the electrode, and a sheet composed solely of fusible metal foil spanning said recess or slot, said electrode being extended completely and unobstructedly through said fusible foil and fusing an advance path through the foil to permit unobstructed movement of the meteroperated memher.

4. A meter having a recess adapted to hold a record card, a member operated by the meter to travel across said recess and having an electrode, a card removably inserted in said recess having a slot conforming to the path of travel of said meter-operated member, and a sheet composed solely of fusible metal foil secured to said card and removable therewith and spanning said slot, said electrode being extended unobstructedly through said fusible metal sheet and fusing an advance path therein to permit the unrestricted advance of the meter operated member.

5. In a recording device for electric meters, an indicating arm operated by the meter and carrying an electrode, a record card to be temporarily mounted in said meter and to be thereafter removed and retained as a record. said card having a scale thereon and a slot adjacent to the scale adapted to receive said electrode, and a sheet of metal foil spanning said slot and secured to said card as a permanent part thereof and adapted to be penetrated by said electrode and fused thereby in its travel in response to the action of the meter-indicating arm, whereby the value represented by the length of the fused path will be indicated on the permanent record by the presence of the said scale.

GRIFFIN G. warm. GEORGE w. LAWRENCE. 

